News
Tamojah enjoys a walk with Laura Berkowitz Gilbert’s dog Louie; a few parting shots of graduating seniors Andrea and Jasmine including prom night and college sweatshirts; Kyra, Jazzy, Irene, and Tamojah take a pottery class with Brian Jones of Brian R Jones Studio.
Former and current host brothers and sisters with some scholars. From left to right Jackson Howard, Sergio Garcia-Perez, Andrea, Tamojah, Jazzy, Abby Fisayo, Irene, Kyra and Izzy Fisayo.
More than 75 supporters of Guilford A Better Chance gathered at the Guilford Community Center on May 21 to hear adult speakers one after another remark on how the GABC young women inspire them.
“They tackle challenges and are involved in many activities beyond their intense studies,” said Lynn Prendergast, Resident Director who lives in an apartment at the GABC house and interacts with them many hours a week.
Kilee Simon, who graduated in 2023 and is attending Boston University, returned to describe her House “sisters” as “amazing, beautiful, and smart.” She advised them to “imagine life as an empty mystery box awaiting decisions to fill it up. Life is like clay, just waiting to be sculpted.”
Guilford High School principal Julia Chaffe praised the two graduating seniors as assets to the school community with their individual gifts.
Laura Berkowitz Gilbert, co-president, announced that Kyra Amani, rising junior, will be a student representative to the Guilford Board of Education. Kyra was instrumental in forming the People of Color affinity group of the high school, fostering social action.
Board co-president Judy Wright thanked Eileen Limoncelli who organized the whole celebration. Judy finishes her two-year position as co-president but will be remaining as an Academic Advisor to the scholars and a member of the Advisory Committee. Nancy Patton will move from Vice-President to Co-President. Melissa Dayton is leaving the Board of Trustees and will remain an Academic Advisor as well as a member of the Advisory Board. Charlene Blake is moving off the Board of Directors and will be part of the Selection Committee and the Advisory Board.
Financial support from the Guilford College Education Fund (administered by the Guilford Foundation) will continue to assist GABC college attendees during their college years as it has for the past four years.
Parents of the two 2024 graduates came forward to thank the Guilford community. Andrea’s father called the town “a great community.” Jasmine’s father said, “It’s not enough to say thank you. These young women went through many changes, with many opportunities in a welcoming school environment.” Andrea’s mother called out: “Pay it forward, girls!”
Enjoying a menu donated by Pasta Avest along with supporters’ donations of deviled eggs, sandwiches, and desserts was long-time resident John Beckmann, husband of the late Adrienne Beckmann who in 1971 was instrumental in the founding of Guilford ABC and the Hole in the Wall retail store that benefits GABC.
The many round tables were decorated with ikebana flower arrangements from Folklore Flower Company in Madison, donated by Kate McNellis, owner.
Time flies. We get to a certain age and notice that time passes much too quickly. I don’t know when this transition happens, but for me I think it was quite a while ago. I’m reminded of this because our two senior students, Andrea and Jasmine, are graduating in a few days but it seems like they just moved to Guilford, started our ABC program and began Guilford High School. We’ve been fortunate enough to watch these two remarkable young women experience high school life and support them during their journey. Andrea will attend Wellesley College and Jasmine will attend Drexel University. Like the Guilford ABC scholars who came before them, they will always have our support and love.
Other transitions include two long-time board members moving off the BOD and joining our advisory board. Charlene Blake volunteered for numerous positions including president during her many years with Guilford ABC and, fortunately for us, will continue as a member of our Selection Committee. Melissa Dayton, also a long-term volunteer on the BOD will join the advisory board while continuing her role as academic advisor to one of our scholars. A heartfelt thank you to Charlene and Melissa for your dedication and willingness to help the program in so many ways. I learned so much from you both.
The two students that graduated from Guilford High School during the pandemic are on their way to their next life experience. T-Juani graduated from Trinity College in May and will be working in NYC. Julia has one more semester at NYU and plans to apply to medical school. They both benefited from the College Education Fund, and we have Connie Dickinson to thank for developing this resource. Current college students that benefit from these grants include Lauren at Hampton University, Arianna at Tufts University, Janelle at Muhlenberg College, and Kilee at Boston University. Andrea and Jasmine will be using this money to help pay for their college expenses.
My 2-years as ABC Co-President is soon to be done. I have worked with two creative and smart women and learned a lot from them both. Georgia Cosgrove and I worked together during my first year and I appreciate learning from an experienced development person and strong leader. This year I’ve had the pleasure of working with Laura Berkowitz-Gilbert and I appreciate her hard work, integrity and vision for the program. I’m not going anywhere and will continue my involvement with the academic affairs committee and the selection committee.
Thank you to everyone involved with Guilford ABC — our donors, our current and former board members, our students and their families. We are very grateful to the program’s Resident Director, Lynn Prendergast and after-school tutor Sharon.
Although Guilford ABC is foremost an academic program, it’s also a place for us all, students and adults, to learn about life, meet new people and broaden our experiences.
Have a happy summer! t
After exploring more than a dozen colleges, the two graduating seniors will be heading off to colleges in Philadelphia and the Boston area. Jasmine Laryea (above left) will be entering Drexel University in Philadelphia this fall as a health sciences major. Her choice was influenced by the university’s program that combines the academic program with cooperative “real-world” experience in hospital settings. Described by Lynn Prendergast, Resident Director for GABC, Jasmine is “kind, yet not a pushover, finding humor in difficult circumstances.”
Guilford High School principal, Julia Chaffe, lauded Jasmine as “a most patient teacher who doesn’t talk down and is always encouraging to others. She has keen insight. She often comes up with a single sentence to cut to the chase with a clarity that is rare and appreciated.”
Jasmine’s extra-curricular life at Guilford High School included theater, dance team, basketball, debate team, and track. At the annual Celebration dinner in May, she spoke of experiencing “real Guilford pride, and thanked her family “for their love and support and trusting me to live far away from home.” Her voice full of emotion and warmth, Jasmine expressed her gratitude to her host family, the academic advisors, and her five GABC house sisters, saying “I admire each and every one of you!”
Andrea Kaluma (above right) has chosen Wellesley College and has not yet declared a major. At the annual Celebration dinner, Andrea stressed the importance of the A Better Chance mission, “drawing together all cultures with smart, talented, curious students to develop leaders.” She thanked her parents and host family and Lynn Prendergast, Resident Director, saying “your job is not easy!”
Andrea’s love of singing included performing with the Guilford High School “Voices” ensemble which led to a solo performance at a spring benefit. Her passion for reading often has her disappearing into a book and loving academic life.
Principal Julia Chaffe smiled broadly as she related how Andrea was “always genuinely happy to see me – and that is rare from high school students! She has a beautiful way of making people comfortable, at ease.”
Ms. Chaffe gave the two graduating scholars the book, “We Should All Be Feminists” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
More than 75 supporters of Guilford ABC attended the Celebration dinner honoring Andra and Jasmine on May 21. As the program was ending, the four parents of the two graduating seniors made their way to the front of the Whitfield Room at the Guilford Community Center to thank the volunteers with Guilford ABC.
“We trusted you with our children, and you took good care of them beautifully.”
The six colorful quilt patches designed for our 50th GABC anniversary are more than just a pretty pattern – they are infused with meaning.
The concept of a quilt perfectly captures the spirit of the Guilford ABC house. A quilt is made up of smaller fabric pieces of different patterns that are arranged in an intricate layout and stitched together to make a cohesive glorious blanket known as a patchwork quilt.
So too, our scholars arrive from diverse backgrounds and hometowns to live together at 143 Church Street. As they spend time together in the Guilford community, they form tight bonds that will last a lifetime.
In the quilt design you see in this newsletter, each of those patterns was created based on the individual interests of each student. Co-president Laura Berkowitz Gilbert, a trained graphic designer, talked with each student to get a sense of their unique interests or point of view and developed a design accordingly
Guilford A Better Chance (GABC) is planning a weekend of activities to celebrate 50 years of the program, its current scholars and alumnae. The centerpiece of the celebration will be a benefit concert. All the way from London, Mo Pleasure will return to his hometown to headline the concert, which will also feature students from the GHS Music Department, including GHS Voices directed by special guest Angela Clemmons, and emcees Stephanie Simoni and Roger Susanin from WFSB, on Saturday, October 19, 7:00pm, at the Guilford High School Performing Arts Center.
Mo Pleasure is a former member and musical director of the renowned Earth, Wind & Fire. He also served as musical director for Bette Midler, and has collaborated with artists such as Ray Charles, Natalie Cole, Roberta Flack, Michael Jackson and David Foster, to name just a few.
Angela Clemmons, in addition to leading the hugely popular Shoreline Soul choir for more than 20 years, has been a professional singer for over 40 years working with such greats as Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson, Celine Dion, Elton John, Roberta Flack, among many others.
This special event celebrating five decades of GABC will be emceed by Stephanie Simoni and Roger Susanin of WFSB/Channel 3.
Tickets are now on sale at guilfordabc.org/50th-anniversary. Don’t wait, past GABC concerts have all been sell-outs!
If you would like to sponsor the 50th Anniversary Benefit Concert or advertise in the event program booklet, please visit www.guilfordabc.org/50th-anniversary. For questions about sponsorships, contact Georgia Cosgrove: gcosmook@gmail.com or (630) 258-6515. For questions about advertising, contact Abby Goodman agoodman0216@gmail.com
Tired of that beautiful quilt? Ready to move on from that leather jacket? Downsizing and want to find a home for that exquisite vase?
The perfect place to unload it is Hole in the Wall, the thrift and consignment retail shop just off the Guilford Green where shoppers find special treasures for home and body. There are two ways to utilize this decades-old popular shop:
CONSIGN. You can realize some money by offering quality clothing at the right season for sale. Summer consignment begins May 1st. Make an appointment to show your items by calling the store at (203)453-2088. At this time, only summer wear is accepted for consignment, in lighter fabrics and colors, explains Patty Sullivan, head manager of the store. (All the appointments for spring consignment have been filled.)
DONATE. Get that warm feeling inside when you give to a wonderful cause that is the Guilford ABC program. Hole in the Wall accepts donations year-round of clothing, jewelry, and housewares that are in near new condition and clean, “something that anyone would be happy to pluck off the shelves to have a ‘new to them’ item in superior condition for a great value,” says Patty.
IMPORTANT: do not leave donations outside at the doors. Drop them off inside during business hours, seven days a week. Unfortunately, some donations have been left outside after hours and have been ruined by bad weather. So, bring in your treasures Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Sunday, Noon to 3 p.m. The volunteers will be overjoyed to receive your donations.
The Hole in the Wall store is located at 35 Boston Street (in the complex across from Guilford Savings Bank). Find out more about the Guilford A Better Chance program at guilfordabc.org.
Guilford ABC is excited to be participating in this year’s Great Give on May 1-2. This 36-hour, online, community-wide giving event was created by The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven to raise visibility and resources for nonprofits serving Greater New Haven.
Your donation to Guilford ABC will allow us to continue providing exceptional educational opportunities and life experiences for talented young women of color, including our current six scholars: Andrea, Irene, Jasmine, Jazzy, Kyra, and Tamojah.
Joining a staff of some nine associate managers at the Guilford ABC consignment/thrift shop, Judi Wallace brings “ultimate patience and a very level head,” says general manager Patty Sullivan. Judi knows clothes. She has spent 30 plus years designing and creating costumes for theaters around the country, including Goodspeed Opera House and Yale Repertory Theater. She supervised all the costumes for the Guilford High School Theatre Arts spring performance of Legally Blonde.
Judi brings deep knowledge of home decorative items as she also has a sewing/creative business where she creates quilts, t-shirts, and custom pillows. Judi has been working with the shop’s consignment items. Patty related that Judi’s laugh and smiles make her “an absolute delight to be around.”
Judi was the Pilgrim Fellowship Director at the First Congregational Church in Guilford for many years. Guilford ABC co-president Laura Berkowitz Gilbert, mother of boys in the program, said, “She was amazing and all the teens loved her.”
Christine Dokko
How does a teenager get prepared for and make the best choice of college to attend? As many parents discover, it’s a fraught process. The best college “fit” involves deep consideration of the academic, social, and financial aspects and how they match with the individual student.
“Each student is different,” confirm Marcy Beatty and Sarah Rickelman, educational consultants with College Matters, a firm that counsels the Guilford ABC students as well as students nationally and internationally for initial and advanced college degrees. The firm supports the college search of the two rising seniors with GABC each year.
The company volunteers its educational consultants Marcy and Sarah who spend many hours of individual time with each young woman, discovering “likes, wants, and dreams.” Each of the Guilford ABC students embarks on a journey of self-reflection, identifying their preferred learning style, strengths, current weaknesses, and “social comfort zone.”
Marcy and Sarah recently won an excellence award from the Independent Educational Consultants Association (ICEA) and donated the $1,000.00 prize to Guilford ABC.
College Matters was founded in 2003 by Elisabeth Morgan who has been additionally honored “for her work with and dedication to the A Better Chance organization.”
The team lauds the young GABC women they’ve worked with. “They are respectful of our time with them, ask thoughtful questions, are very appreciative, and have done so wonderfully!”
Marcy and Sarah also praise the GABC Board, all the volunteers, and the Guilford community.
“Amazing support they give the girls at Guilford ABC! They volunteer with tutoring, give opportunities for travel, and have maintained the quality of the program over time. And we want to give a shout-out to Christine Dokko, Guilford ABC board member, for helping with the essay-writing process, too!”
The College Matters website is www.college-matters.com.
